Electric railway.



J. M. CLARK.

ELECTRIC RAlLWAY.

APPUCATION FILED JAN.22,1916.

1.21 1,088. Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. M. CLARK.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

APPLICATION FILED ]AN.22, 1916.

wLw/vvto L Patented Jan. 2,

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- SJ :Zflf' k/z/r/v J. M, CLARK.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22. 1916 1,21 1,088. Patehted Jan. 2,1917.

3 SHEETSS.HEET 3.

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JAMES M; CLARK, OF'MACON, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH 'IQ'DU FONT GUERRY, 0F MACON, GEORGIA.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES M. CLARK, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Macon, in the county of Bibb and Stateof Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in electric railways, and particularly to electrically operated means controlled from a car and supplied from the power supply, for actuating switches, signals, etc.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of means carried by the vehicle such as an electric car and under control of the motor-man b which a distant or 7 cooperation with added conductors which parallel the main line wire or conductor, and in certain connections therefrom by which the devices become operative.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

In illustrating my invention 1 have uti lizedan electric railway, car, and switch as exemplifying its embodiment, but it will be understood that a steam railway train, for instance, might well be equipped with my invention, not only to throw a switch, but to actuate a signal, either visual or audible, and for this reason it will be understood that the illustration shows one species of the generic invention.

Figure 1 shows in side elevation, an electric railway car equipped with my special form of trolley attachment. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing the front platform of a car, and illustrating the conveniently located means for actuating the auxiliary or supplemental trolleys. Fig. 3 shows a pair of tubes or pipes, one in section, illustrating the trolley control device. Fig. 4 shows one of these tubes in side elevation and also Specification of Letters Patent.

illustrates a pulley in a bend of the tube over which the control cord is guided. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the trolley attachment according to my invention. Fig. 6 is a sideview of the attachment of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is an end view of the trolley showing the three wheels. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of the wiring of the invention, showing the connection of the electric car, railway and switches. Fig. 10 illustrates, in perspective a perforated pan used in the switch pit. Fig. 11 shows the pan, and connections therefrom, in the switch pit.

The trolley as a whole is indicated by the numeral 1 and is carried as usual by the car 2 to draw current from the main line wire or conductor 3, while the circuit is completed through the rails l. The trolley is pivoted at 5 to the top of the car 2 in suitable manner, and it will be observed that the trolley pole 6 is supplemented by a pair of side bars 7, 7, the three parts being joined at the base of the trolley, and the bars 7, 7, carrying the main trolley wheel 8 which travels in contact with the conductor wire 3. Disposed at suitable intervals throughout the length of the trolley are brackets or cross-heads 9, 9, 9, which rigidly unite the two side bars with the center pole 6, and all of these brackets or crossheads are fashioned with pairs of perforated guide lugs 10, 10, through which'the' two supplemental poles 11 and l1" are guided. Each of these poles carries a trolley wheel as 12, 1%, which.

when in normal position are located below the inain'trolley wheel 8, but when desired, these poles with their wheels, one or both, may be projected upwardly to the level of the main conductor 3 in order to contact with the switch conductors or wires 14 and 15 which arelocated in the same plane with the main conductor and supported from posts in usual manner, one at each side of and close to the main conductor. Eachsupplemental pole has a flanged sleeve or bushing 16 fixed thereto, and between these bushings and the perforated lugs of the bracket 9 a coiled spring 17 is interposed which surroundsthe pole. The tendency of these spring is at all times to urge the poles 11 11*, carrying their trolley wheels 12 12, upwardly toward the plane of the main line Patented Jan. 2, 191?.

Application filed January 22, 1916. Serial No. 73,586.

conductor, but under normal conditions, the poles with their trolley wheels are held or retained in retracted position by a device conveniently located in the front of the car for access by the motor man and suitably connected to'the supplemental poles.

A. retaining cord or cable, as 18 (Figs. 3 and 4) is attached, as at 19 to an eye-bolt I at the lower extremity of each pole 11, 11

- fective.

To retain the ropes and trolley poles in retracted position I utilize'a locking bolt 21 for each tube which is fixed at the end of each cable and provided with a knob or handle 22 that projects through the bayonet slot 23 in the tubes 20. The bolt is freely movablevertically in the tubing and when it is turned in the recess 24: at the lower end of the slot 23, it is apparent that the trolley wheels 12 and 12 are retained in retracted position.

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated a switch 25 for the branch 27 of the main line, and in Figs. 10, 11 a pan 29 is shown in the switch pit 80 in which are contained the electrical apparatus for moving the switches. To insure perfect drainage for rainwater or other accumulations in these pits the pans arev formed with drain openings 31 in their bottoms which communicate with a conduit 32 that leads to the city sewerage system, (not shown). It will be understood of course that the two wires 14 and 15 do not parallel the main conductor, except at a suitable distance from the switch to be operated.

Referring to Fig. 9, and assuming that the car is in the position shown, the motor- 1 man turns the bolt 21 by means of its knob 22 to the left (in Fig. 3) and this movement permits the spring 17 to raise the pole 11 with its trolley wheel 12 until it contacts 7 .with the wire or conductor 14. Until the trolley 12 contacts with wire 14 this wire is inert, but when the trolley wheel 12 is lifted to contact with its wire current is supplied thereto from the main trolley wheel 8 and its frame and main line 3; In this manner a circuit is completed to operate the mechanism for moving the switch 25, and the switch is operated, through the solenoid 26, armature 26 and the mechanical connections to the switch point- When the switch is to be thrown in the opposite direction, the circuit including wire 15 is closed and the solenoid 27 is energized to attract the armature 27. Then the car leaves the switch actuating zone, or as soon as the switch is actuated, the motor man may retract the trolley wheel 12" by drawing down on the bolt 21 and turning the knob 22 into its recess a 24 for locking the parts. The operation of the trolley wheel 12 and the switch operating wire 15 are similar torthat described. Instead of the switch, it will readily be seen that a visual or audible signal may be actuated, as at a railroad crossing by this novel means, and other electrically actuated devices or electro-magnetic machines may similarly be operated. As a further modification of my invention, it will be seen that a steam railroad train may be equipped with this switch operating or signaling device, by making only slight changes, and other changes may also be made within the scope of my claims. If

desired a shield or casing 33 of sheet metal or similar material may be utilized to inclose the springs 17, 17, as shown in Fig. 1, to protect the parts from the weather, and other details of construction not shown herein, but necessary, will of course be supplied as needed.

What I claim is 1. The combination with an electrical railway car, a switch mechanism and 2. normally open electrical circuit, of a trolley attachment including the main trolley, wheel and conductor, a supplemental trolley pole carried by the main trolley provided with a contact member and movable relatively to the main pole, means on the car for retaining said supplemental pole in retracted position, and means for projecting the supplemental pole to close the circuit and 0perate the switch.

2. The combination with an electric railway car, a switch and electrical connections therefor, and a trolley wheel and supporting pole, of guide brackets attached to the pole, a supplemental trolley pole and contact member movably supported in said brackets, means for projecting the supplemental trolley pole, and means for normally retaining the polev in retracted position.

3. The combination with a trolley pole having guide brackets, of a supplemental trolley pole and contact member supported in the brackets, means tending to project the supplemental pole, and means for positively holding the pole in retracted position.

.41. The combination with a trolley pole having guide brackets, of a supplemental trolley pole and contact member supported in the brackets, a spring engaging a fixed part of the pole to project it, and a retaining device for positively holding the spring compressed and the pole retracted.

5. The combination with an electric car lso and its main trolley pole, of guide brackets on the trolley pole, a supplemental trolley pole movably supported in the brackets a spring engaging a fixed part of the supplemental trolley pole and also the main trolley pole and tending to project the pole, a cord attached to the supplemental pole, a locking bolt attached at the end of the cord and a casing for the bolt, and means for looking the bolt in position to hold the supplemental trolley pole in retracted position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JAMES M. CLARK.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

